Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

“Was There a Real King Arthur?”

-Historical Analysis by Robert StewartSir Gawain and the Green Knight“Holding Out for a Hero”

-Song Lyrics by Dean Pitchford

Texts

Copy the following definitions onto your Key Terms

for English IV handout.

Quest - A search or pursuit

Symbolism - use of any object, person, place, or experience that means more that it is

Romance – a verse narrative that traces the adventures of a brave knight or hero who overcomes danger for love or another high ideal

Key Terms

What do Gawain's adventures reveal about knightly virtues?

Essential Question

Read the passage “Was There a Real King Arthur?” and complete the shallow coding graphic organizer.

Building Background Knowledge

Code Lines (one line for each section)

N = new information

I = I know this

? = I don’t understand

C = Connection

A= Agree

D = Disagree

= I like this

= I don’t like this

! = This is important info.

Watch the following video clip about medieval

castles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_w4FGgOVsM&feature=related

Then discuss how the scene that we will begin reading in the excerpt from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight would have looked.

Building Background Knowledge, cont.

Read the Background information on p. 158 of Elements of Literature

and answer the following question.

1. Which of the following statements is not true?

A. Sir Gawain agrees to give whatever he wins to the lord at the end of the day.B. Sir Gawain agrees with the Green Knight to exchange one strike for another.C. Sir Gawain agrees to meet the lady after the second battle with the Green Knight.D. Sir Gawain agrees to go to the Green Chapel and face the Green Knight’s blow.

Building Background Knowledge, cont.

Listen to the audio CD of Sir Gawain and the

Green Knight and follow along in the Elements of Literature, pp. 159-165.

Pause after each chunk of text to answer a multiple choice question.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

2. Which of the following literary elements is exemplified in lines 7, 13 &20?

A. AssonanceB. KenningC. RefrainD. Alliteration

p. 159

3. Which word most closely means the opposite of the word fiendish as it is used in line 36?

A. VillainousB. MalevolentC. HolyD. Legendary

p. 160, Ln. 35-52

4. What elements of romance are evident in the story so far?

A. The hero is undertaking a dangerous quest for honor’s sake.

B. The hero and heroine are being kept apart by society’s conventions.

C. The hero has demonstrated superhuman strength.

D. The hero has bragged about his victories in battle.

p. 160, Ln. 53-79

5. What other famous work of British literature

contains a deadline of one year and a day?

A. The Pardoner’s TaleB. The Wife of Bath’s TaleC. BeowulfD. Lord Randall

p. 161, Ln. 82-55

6. The Green Knight taunts Sir Gawain because Sir Gawain

A. does not return all of the lady’s kisses.B. is tortured by the lady.C. does not let the Green Knight strike another blow.D. flinches at the sight of the descending ax.

p. 161, Ln. 100-124

7. Line 134 contains two examples of which

literary element?

A. IronyB. MetaphorC. SimileD. Personification

p. 162, Ln. 125-140

8. Which of the following words means the same

as reproved as it is used in line 178.

A. ScoldedB. PraisedC. ApprovedD. Corroborated

p. 164, Ln. 175-181

9. Why does Sir Gawain feel ashamed after his

final confrontation with the Green Knight?

A. He is ashamed because by keeping the sash, he violates the code of knighthood.B. He is ashamed because he missed the second meeting.C. He is ashamed because he was afraid to be hit by the Green Knight.D. He is ashamed because the lady rejected him.

p. 165

Listen to the following song and read along with the lyrics on p. 166, then answer question 10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iovcnjuf2WU&feature=related

Holding Out for a Hero

10.How is the hero described in the chorus of

“Holding Out for a Hero” like the hero of a romance?

A. He is superhuman or larger-than-life.B. He fights to protect a lady’s honor.C. He defeats an evil villain.D. He arrives at night.

p. 158 and p. 166

Is Sir Gawain a superhuman romantic hero or is he too flawed to be a true hero? Support your response with at least two pieces of evidence from the text.

“Beyond the Line” Question